R147-million unspent as SASSA queues worsen

SASSA queues are reaching a new level of unmanageable due to agency reviews, report our readers. And yet, money has been budgeted, posts are funded, but there are still no new hires. This is according to a written parliamentary reply from Social Development Minister Dina Pule.

She revealed this week that R147.2 million allocated to fill 228 vacancies has not been spent. The question was posed by EFF MP Paulnita Marais. Of the 228 vacancies:

• 84 are at regional offices and head office (R72.3-million allocated)
• 144 are at local and district offices (R74.9-million allocated).
• That’s a very tidy average of R645 000 per post.

SASSA QUEUES BECOMING UNMANAGEABLE

In Minister Pule’s response, she gave several reasons for the delay. Funded vacancies must first undergo a formal job evaluation. Head-office posts need consultation with the Department of Public Service and Administration. A Critical Posts Committee under the CEO must prioritise which jobs to fill first. And that promoting someone internally simply creates another vacancy that needs filling.

Meanwhile, Wendy Kaizer-Philander (DA), Western Cape Social Development Minister, visited a SASSA office in Mitchells Plain. She confirmed that the staffing pressures she saw, “underscored the urgent need to fill funded vacancies without delay.” And she wants an urgent review of SASSA’s national recruitment strategy.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FACE SASSA QUEUES

Because of toughening reviews from the South African Social Security Agency, more people are being pushed back into SASSA queues than would normally be the case. The agency itself revealed that 105 600 beneficiaries were placed under in just three months between April and June.

That’s 1 173 people per day, every day, in SASSA queues that weren’t there before. 54% of these reviews ended in grant suspension. This month, reader Alida told us getting to an office is a ‘heartbreaking’ ordeal for older people. Rita Cronje said she lost three days to her review, then was told to go back, and still has a September 2026 SASSA grant unaccounted for …

Therefore, before travelling:

• Phone 0800 601 011 or confirm your review status.
• Send ‘Hi’ to 082 601 0111 on WhatsApp.
• Take your ID, bank statement and any documents SASSA asked for.
• Always ask for a reference number for any query you make.

But what do you think? Do you have any stories to share about SASSA queues? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …